An armed young man committed suicide after shooting and generating home-made bombs, wounding 27 people at his former school in Germany on Monday (Nov 20).

German police special forces walk to their cars outside Scholl secondary school in the western German town of Emsdetten November 20, 2006. A masked man wearing explosives and brandishing rifles opened fire at a school in the western German town of Emsdetten on Monday.

The 18-year-old gunman, named as Sebastian Bosse, entered the Geschwister Scholl School in the town of Emsdetten near the Dutch border in the morning, about two hours after the day's lessons had begun. The German TV WDR reported that he had graduated from the school after passing examinations.

The young man had fired bullets in the playground of the school, wounding four school children and a school caretaker.

Bosse had been due to appear in court on Tuesday for illegal possession of weapons.

German police guard outside the Geschwister-Scholl school in Emsdetten, western Germany. (Xinhua Photo)

German police escort children leaving the Geschwister-Scholl school in Emsdetten, western Germany. (Xinhua Photo)

Police said that a total of 11 non-police people were injured and 16 policemen were wounded in the incident.

Most were hurt by dense smoke which Bosse generated with home-made pipe-bombs after holing up in the second floor of the school building.

Earlier reports had said that the armed man had kidnapped students in the building. Special police searched the building and found the attacker's body.

Most students fled and only four pupils were left in a classroom and later were rescued by the police.

Reports said that Bosse left a farewell message on his website, suggesting that the attack was retaliation for being mocked at school.

"The only thing I was properly taught at GSS (Geschwister Scholl School) was that I'm a loser. I hate people. The must all die," he wrote in his farewell message.

Editor: Donald